The Salvation Army

Waterston Centre

Services

We at Waterston Centre are aware that the men who come to us for shelter are faced with many difficult experiences and they often need someone to listen to the hurts and frustrations within their being.

The chief role of the Chaplain (Spiritual Care Coordinator) is to do just that – LISTEN – and then to appropriately respond to the hurts and frustrations of the residents in a compassionate manner.

The following services are presently provided by the Waterston Centre Chaplain:

* Every week-day morning the Bible is read and prayer is offered during breakfast. There are usually 70 to 80 residents present when this devotional type of spiritual care is provided. There are always positive comments. The staff also looks forward to this style of sharing during breakfast.

* Every Wednesday morning the Chaplain conducts staff devotions. Staff is advised by public announcement of the devotions.

* Once per week morning Waterston House residents are invited to B, C and D – acronym for Bible, Coffee and Donuts. The Chaplain shows a short video on some aspect of spiritual life and that is followed by a time of discussion.

* Every Wednesday afternoon a special time of pop-corn and singing is held in the SRP (Supportive Residential Program). Each resident of the SRP is treated to pop-corn and a beverage while singing hymns and contemporary songs.

The Chaplain makes sure that every resident and staff gets a birthday card.

The Chaplain is always very visible at Waterston Centre making sure that visibility means availability.

Residents are encouraged to attend a church of their choice.

The Chaplain is sometimes called upon to provide clothing, toiletries, etc.

The Chaplain is the chief fund raiser and supplier for the Waterston Christmas season.

To temporarily meet the housing and, in some cases, other needs of the homeless by providing short-term shelter and other services that include showers, meals, laundry, case management for housing, employment, public benefits, and referral to outside services. Programming for the Emergency Shelter is based on the identified needs of the Residents in conjunction with Caseworker and Residential Team Manager. All programming is designed to reflect The Salvation Army Emergency Shelter Principles.

Residents at the emergency shelter have access to a bed, laundry machines, and three square meals a day. The program lounge is utilized for programming such as addiction 12 step meetings, various other programming that the caseworker implements. There is also a television in the program lounge where residents can relax and watch television. Also residents have access to two computers that they can use to build a resume, search for jobs, check emails and search for housing.

Residents of the emergency shelter also have access to a caseworker that helps them apply for assistance if needed. Coordinate and facilitate helping residents get the supports they may need from other community agencies. Advocate for residents to other agencies if required and go with them to meetings. The caseworker also facilitates courses in resume writing and interview prep to help residents in the job market.

The Salvation Army Waterston Centre residential unit is independent living and referral is by agency, self, or other. Acceptance is conditional depending on individual needs and required resources.

It is a 40 bed residence for males only, operated by The Salvation Army and is located in the heart of downtown Regina.

The building is air conditioned and is wheel-chair accessible, with ramp and elevator.

Close to bus routes (both local transit and STC), shopping, libraries, social services, etc.

Both long-term and short-term accommodation are offered in the residence, depending on the persons need. There is usually a maximum stay of two years, but this is also dependent on need and situation, and exceptions can be made.

Services in Place for Residents

24 hour security

Clothing for emergent situations (when available)

FREE laundry facilities (detergent is available)

Common washroom and shower facilities

Assigned Caseworker

Referral services

Spiritual Care Services available

Medication Administration for residents

Private rooms for individuals seeking a medium to long-term, stable living environment where meals, housekeeping, and other support services are provided.

To provide a safe, supportive, resource-rich residential environment for its residents.

In partnership with Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR), the SRP works with residents and caseworkers to ensure that the foundation for resident program development is based on Quality of Life criteria, including the following needs:

Health (physical, emotional, spiritual)

Legal

Social

Work/Education

Enriched Housing

Family

Financial

It accommodates 15 men in private rooms.

There are 2 common washrooms in the available to the SRP and designated lounge areas on the main floor.

Laundry facilities are provided at no charge.

Supportive Residential Program

SRP was developed to provide an alternative residential service option for men with diagnosed psychiatric illness, behavioral problems, and/or substance abuse, as long as the resident can be maintained safely within the facility and surrounding community.

Intake is coordinated by the RQHR System Wide Admission and Discharge Department (SWADD).

Referrals can be made to SWADD for assessment/admission consideration by your family physician, health care workers, persons with ‘significant’ interest/concern, and so on.

The RQHR Program Access Committee (PAC) reviews the assessment to determine if placement in a facility or supportive assistance is necessary.

Based on admission criteria agreed upon between The Salvation Army Waterston Centre SRP department and the RQHR, the SRP may be considered an appropriate option.

The client is presented to Waterston Centre SRP department for consideration.

Factors other than the assessment will be considered in determining acceptance of the client.

SRP Services

*Cueing as necessary with hygiene and grooming needs.(limited 'hands-on'service)

*Support services such as meals, laundry, housekeeping, special occasion acknowledgment and banking.

*Medication administration and monitoring.

*Advocacy with personal issues when needed,collaborating with on-site resource/social worker.

Kate's Place offers supervised housing for up to 11 women in the process of completing addictions treatment required by the Regina Drug Treatment Court (RDTC). Most of these women would otherwise be serving custodial sentences.

The Salvation Army started the program as a two-year test project in 2012 after receiving funding from the federal government. Once the program was in place, the number of women participating in the RDTC went up nearly 40 per cent. Since 2012, four women who were pregnant when they moved into Kate's Place for treatment later gave birth to healthy, drug-free babies.

The RDTC is a therapeutic court that addresses drug addiction as an underlying cause of criminal activity. It is considered one of the most successful drug treatment courts in Canada.

The Ministry of Justice has partnered with The Salvation Army Waterston Centre to provide a community alternative to accused who would otherwise be involved in short-term police or custody cells. The services provided by the CAR program will be focused on assisting the participant in

1) reducing the chance of criminal re-offending

2) increasing compliance with any legal conditions while in the community, and

3) increasing the likelihood of the participant attending scheduled court appearances, while awaiting conclusion of the accused’s criminal charge(s).

The CAR program is a short-term case management service that provides approximately two – three weeks of intensive intervention and support, followed by reduction of direct service once stabilization has occurred. There is then periodic follow-up towards the arrestee’s scheduled court appearance, and conclusion of their legal matters. The CAR program provides participants with case management services focused on factors such as, but not limited to, establishing a stable place to live, mental health stabilization and review, managing substance abuse patterns, managing relationships with criminogenic potential, engaging in prosocial use of leisure time, accessing necessary education or employment opportunities, and supporting compliance with conditions of release in the community and/or attendance at court. There is currently one full-time Caseworker, as well as a part-time Psychiatric Nurse for pre-trial residential and community support services. Case management services will be provided to participants receiving residential services, as well as to accused who may be residing elsewhere within the community, but who require services associated with the Program objectives. The Caseworker can provide services for up to 10 residents living at The Salvation Army Waterston Centre and 20 clients residing in the community. Referrals to the CAR program are completed by community Bail Officers and sent to the Residential Team Leader and CAR Caseworker. Once a referral has been made, the CAR Caseworker and/or the Psychiatric Nurse meet with the incarcerated client prior to their release to complete an interview which will determine their acceptance or rejection to the CAR program. If the client is accepted to the CAR program, an intake is completed upon arrival to the Waterston Centre and case management can begin.